Get online and make holiday shopping work for you this year

(ARA) - Picture this scenario: You're in your most comfortable pajamas, feet tucked snugly into a pair of slippers. Your house is decorated for the holidays, you have some beautiful melodies playing over the stereo and a steaming cup of hot cocoa by your side.

If you're enjoying the tranquility of the holiday season quietly in your own home, why would you want to interrupt it to put on bulky cold-weather gear, trudge through the snow or cold rain to your car, fight with traffic and then tangle with all the other shoppers looking for holiday discounts just to get your seasonal shopping done?

Online shopping can help you keep calm and relaxed this holiday season. Here are a few ways how:

* Don't leave your house. All of the gifts can be delivered to your front door, or you can arrange to have them delivered to each of your recipients if you want. And if you're a busy, on-the-go person, take your shopping where you go. Tackle that list over your lunch hour at work or even while sitting in a waiting room for an appointment.

* Take advantage of holiday sales. Online retailers will still offer plenty of special holiday discounts on their websites, and you can find even bigger discounts by shopping through sites like Ebates.com. Ebates not only provides you with free shipping discounts or coupon codes, but also will give you a check back in the mail for a percentage of your purchases.

For example, if you shop at Macy's online through the Ebates site for a beautiful necklace, you not only can use the Macy's coupons found on the site, but you will also get up to 10 percent of your total purchase put into your account. Once a quarter, you'll receive a check in the mail for all the cash back you have earned. An added advantage - there are no rebate forms to fill out or points or miles to redeem.

* Shop on your schedule. If you are free at 2 a.m. to do your holiday shopping, don't let the odd time of day stop you. Online stores are open 24/7 - something that can't be said about the mall.

* Compare prices quickly. Finding the lowest price is a lot easier when you only have to flick through a couple of websites, rather than driving from store to store. This is sure to help you save some additional money this holiday season.

Make your holiday shopping list work for you this season, instead of fighting all the hustle and bustle of traffic and crowded stores. And if you manage it, enjoy that hot cup of cocoa as you cross gifts off your holiday shopping list.